ROBERTO LANDI today thanked the Livingston fans and the Scottish people for making him so welcome as he began packing his bags to return to his family in Italy after being sacked by the club.
The Italian is leaving with regrets that he was not able to see through his development plan for the West Lothian club which, despite new owners taking over in the summer, has recently resumed its natural form of lurching from one disaster to the nex
t.
Landi's sacking is the latest episode in a chapter of short-termism which has seen eight managers come and go since Davie Hay guided the club to the CIS Cup in 2004.
That's an average of two a season, a pattern set to continue this term and Hay is the favourite to resume his role as club owner Angelo Massone is intent on appointing a new coach before Saturday's home game to Dundee. Hay currently works as a 'football advisor' for the club and his son-in-law, Tomasso Angelini, is on the club's board.
And current stories of unpaid bills at the club and mounting debts are nothing but familiar to Livingston fans who had hoped Massone and his Italian team would bring stability, a degree of financial acumen and ambition.
However, a paper-thin squad has been cruelly exposed since their 6-1 defeat at Queen of the South, with just four points won in the following six league games.
The embarrassing loss in the Scottish Cup to East Stirling on Saturday appears to have been too much for the board despite the club lying just six points from the summit of the First Division.
Landi, who was axed five months into a two-year contract, said: "If I have another chance to work in Scotland I would grab it. It has been a fantastic experience. I have enjoyed learning about the history, the traditions and the mentality of Scottish football."
Landi blamed his departure on current form and lack of players. "I barely have 11 players who have the experience to play in this league. On Saturday I had no-one on the bench I could turn to and make a tactical switch with.
"You need 22 good players to succeed, then you can have a winning team." This lament which will be familiar to Mark Proctor, who Landi replaced.
Livingston defender Dave Mackay said: "Roberto had a quiet word with us before training yesterday. It was sad, I've seen enough of this and I don't think Saturday helped. The performance was shocking."
